A Culinary Christmas Around the World … in Kansas City
In the United States, the traditional Christmas meal typically includes turkey, ham or roast, eggnog or cocoa, and an array of cookies and pies. Around the world, Christmas is a little different. This holiday season take your tastebuds on a culinary tour around the globe, savoring signature foods served at Christmas celebrations all over.
Australia
Australian Christmases are warm and sunny, and the holiday occurs in the middle of summer vacation. Many families celebrate with barbecues and picnics. A beloved tradition is Carols by Candlelight, with outdoor caroling, and meals end with delicious desserts and baked goods. Purchase some here in KC at the local Australian bakery, Banksia (BanksiaBakehouse.com). The shop sells Australian-style fruit mince tarts, Christmas cakes and plum puddings (with brandy custard).
Mexico
In Mexico, many families enjoy the tradition of tamales made from pork or chunks of beef or chicken. Tamales have also been enjoyed in the United States and South America for centuries. It is said that tamales are especially significant at Christmas because they are a symbol of the Virgin Mary, carrying in her the baby Jesus or a mother carrying a future life, especially if the tamale contains an olive. For many families, making tamales together is a labor-intensive family ritual as friends and relatives are invited to spend a day or more preparing the favorite dish. Locally, our favorite authentic tamales are prepared at Dos de Oros (DosDeOrosRestaurant.com), where you can purchase hot tamales ready to serve or frozen tamales you can steam and warm at home.
Italy
An Italian Christmas would not be complete without an array of sweet cookies and golden breads. The cookies are often dipped in coffee or a dessert wine. The most popular treats are inspired by their region of origin, often along early spice routes. It’s said the amaretti cookie, made with bitter almonds, originated in Venice during the Renaissance. Taralli, popular in Southern Italy, are ring cookies, reminiscent of bagels, and can be sweet or savory with ingredients that can include black pepper, fennel, lemon glaze and sprinkles. Carollo's Italian Gourmet Grocery (CarollosDeliKCMO.com) offers a wide selection of delicious homemade Italian cookies, including powdered crescents, lemon taralli, buccellate (Italian fig cookies) and long amaretti with almonds. A holiday must for many Italian families is a cheerfully wrapped panettone. Jasper’s (JaspersKC.com), Kansas City’s most beloved Italian restaurant, is known for serving the most delicious gourmet Italian meals and the best panettone in town.
Slovenia
Povitica is a festive Slovenian cake served during holidays and celebrations. The cake is made into a loaf of delicious dough rolled with fillings and baked into a beautiful swirl. Kansas City’s own bakery, Strawberry Hill Povitica Company (StrawberryHill.com), continues the tradition baking the Eastern European dessert bread since 1984. Visitors can visit the bakery to watch the artisan bakers prepare the delicious bread (viewed through glass windows) and buy the sweet treat fans love all year long, but especially during the holidays.
Germany
Gingerbread is a beloved Christmas tradition dating back to 16th-century Germany. The charming, detailed cookie houses decorated with sweet treats are a holiday staple. Wally’s Pastry Shop (Facebook.com/wallyspastryshop) makes exquisite gingerbread houses as whimsical centerpieces for your holiday table. They also make houses entirely of chocolate!
Sweden
The St. Lucia Festival is the centerpiece of Swedish holiday traditions. Legend says that Lucia came to Scandinavia when Sweden was suffering a famine. She steered a ship, shining with light and filled with food, across the waters of Lake Vännern in the province of Värmland, saving the people of Sweden from starvation. Each year, she is celebrated on Dec. 13 with an early breakfast of saffron buns, ginger cookies and coffee. The oldest daughter in the family wears a white gown with a red sash and a crown of lingonberry branches with seven lit candles. This tradition is celebrated annually in Lindsborg, KS, the heartland’s “Little Sweden.” For Christmas, families feast on smorgasbord (or smörgåsbord, as it’s written in Swedish), called the julboard (its holiday name) of food, including ham, pork sausage, an egg and anchovy mixture (gubbröra), herring salad, potatoes, pickled herring, liver pâté, wort-flavored rye bread (vörtbröd) and a special fish dish, lutfisk. You can find many of these items, as well as chocolates, cookies and festive drinks in the food market at Ikea (Ikea.com).
Japan
Beginning in the 1970s, when the first KFC opened in Japan, America’s own classic fried chicken became the traditional holiday food of choice for many Japanese families. In fact, KFC (KFC.com) is so popular that Christmas orders are placed up to two months in advance. It all started when the original owner of the first KFC in Japan sold a Christmas "party barrel" as an homage to a traditional American turkey dinner. Many families enjoyed taking on the American food as their new tradition, and now KFC is the signature food for a Japanese Christmas, with some locations even featuring Colonel Sanders dressed as Santa Claus.
Europe
Europe is known for delicious cookies and gourmet chocolates, and you can find a wide selection at European Delights (EuropeanDelightsKC.com). The small shop sells a large selection imported deli meats, cheeses and foods, including nearly 300 varieties of candy from nations all over Europe. At Christmas, they stock up on beautifully boxed chocolate. The boxes look like European houses and villages decorated with wreaths and lights, making a perfect holiday gift.
Kristina Light’s family enjoys tamales from Dos de Oros, povitica from Strawberry Hill and European chocolates as part of their holiday festivities each year.